You’ve heard the old saying before I’m sure, ‘the more things change the more they stay the same.’ That’s especially true when it comes to human behavior. As I recall when Adam and Eve sinned against Holy God they were keenly aware what had taken place. When the Lord called out to them we find them doing basically four things, just as men and women do today. What is it we do? We run, hide, cover up and shift blame.

It’s this thing called “shifting the blame” that, in my opinion is epidemic in our society. In other words, it’s not taking responsibility for our own actions or behavior. We want to blame our sin and shortcomings on someone else. Eve blaming the serpent. Adam blaming God for giving him the woman.

Genesis 3:12  The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

Genesis 3:13  Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

A society that seems to live, always finger pointing and blaming the other guy for his problem, or dissatisfaction, is a society living awfully close to the edge of imploding, but that’s where we find ourselves.

The wife blames the husband, the husband blames the wife. The Democrats blame the Republicans and Republicans blame the Democrats. The student blames the teacher and the teacher blames the parents and on and on and on and on we go. Oh, it’s true in much of the church today also. The congregants blame the elders, the elders blame the deacons and on and on and on the merry go round continues. Some even blame God like our first father did. Psalm 19 is absolutely true in our society today.

Pro 19:3  “When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.”

Now I’m not suggesting that others are never to blame, that would be ridiculous. However, Adam and Eve should have faced the music instead and so should we. The first step to finding peace with God and of course others is to be honest with yourself, stop blaming others. Listen to the words of Jesus and apply it to someone, or maybe you, shifting the blame always on someone else.

Mat 7:1  “Judge not, that you be not judged.

Mat 7:2  For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Mat 7:3  Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

Mat 7:4  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?

Mat 7:5  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Jesus is not saying that we’re never to judge, that’s ridiculous but he is saying make sure you don’t have the same problem before proceeding to help your brother. So, when you want to respond like your first parents, please remember that you alone will give an account for you!

Pastor Scott Tyler

Oak Street Baptist Church